Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Threat to eBay operation in Dundalk real – Adams

Sinn Féin Louth TD Gerry Adams has expressed his “deep concern at the possibility that eBay might leave Dundalk and the state”.

The Louth TD said: “This afternoon I asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor about the speculation in Dundalk surrounding the future of eBay.

The Minister confirmed to me that eBay is looking at new locations. She told me, and I quote, ‘IDA Ireland are working with eBay to find suitable premises and my concern, and it is a concern, is that eBay stays in Ireland. And I have asked IDA Ireland to work with the company to facilitate this.’

This is a very serious development.”

Teachta Adams said:

“I have urged the Minister to ensure that her department and the IDA do all they can to ensure the continuation of eBay in the Dundalk area.”

The Louth TD raised eBay with the Minister this afternoon following speculation in Dundalk that the company might be moving.

Gerry Adams said:

“PayPal set up business in Dundalk in 2011 and was followed two years later by eBay. Currently eBay employs 200 people, many of them from the locality, at its site in Dundalk’s Xerox Technology Park.

It shares this site with PayPal from whom it parted ways one year ago. It is a hugely successful international business. Its revenue this year is expected to be in the region of 2.2 billion dollars.

It appears that PayPal wants to expand its premises to employ additional staff.

While this is very welcome there is also a responsibility on the government to ensure that eBay also stays in the locality.”